Lisandro Martinez: Man Utd defender in squad for Leeds trip as Michael Carrick insists situation resolved
Man Utd boss Michael Carrick reveals Lisandro Martinez will be in the squad for Sunday's trip to Leeds - live on Sky Sports from 1pm; kick-off 2pm - despite the defender calling out the club's hierarchy after losing to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
Friday 16 October 2026 16:22, UK
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick insists he is telling the truth when he says the club have moved on from Lisandro Martinez's post-match outburst earlier this week.
In a press conference dominated by questions about Martinez, Carrick revealed that the defender would be included in Sunday's squad for the trip to Leeds United despite him calling out director of football Jason Wilcox over a lack of investment in the transfer window.
Martinez, whose outspoken comments came after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, met the club's hierarchy, including Wilcox. CEO Omar Berrada and Carrick, on Thursday before making an apology over the timing and public nature of his criticism.
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Asked about Martinez on Friday ahead of Sunday's trip to Leeds, live on Sky Sports, Carrick said: "He's released his statement and realised he made a mistake.
"That's enough for us to move on with. From our point of view, the acknowledgement of what's been done is enough to move on."
'I'm telling you the truth' - Carrick insists case closed
United's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who was Carrick's teammate at Old Trafford for more than a decade, said Martinez's comments had the potential to "rip the dressing room apart".
But Carrick, who is under mounting pressure with United on a five-game winless run, was adamant that the spirit of the group remains strong ahead of two tough away games against Leeds and Como.
Questioned why people would believe that with everything that has been said, Carrick added: "There's a lot of people saying a lot of things. Pros and ex-pros, that doesn't mean they know what's going on here.
"The players totally believe me. Just because people talk on the outside doesn't make it the truth. I am telling you the truth.
"The squad [on Friday] was in a fantastic place, better than I've seen it for a while, actually. It's plain and simple. It's not affected [the spirit], I'm telling you. We're in a good place."
He added: "As a group we've moved on. It's really not a drama for the group. The squad have trained really well and they are in good spirits.
"It was pretty simple. We understood the situation. Licha understood he made a mistake. We have a really good feeling from the club. We can see in the group we want to do something with this situation.
"We've moved on. Genuinely. There is a freshness about the group."
Should Wilcox speak more often in public?
Martinez directly called out United's "technical director" in his post-match interview in Madrid, putting director of football Wilcox firmly in the top spotlight.
Since replacing Dan Ashworth to assume his current role, Wilcox has only done one extended interview, which came nearly a year ago after a run of three wins, and it was with the club's in-house media.
Asked if Wilcox, who has been criticised by fans for his lack of communication, should speak up more, Carrick said: "I don't think it's for me to say whether he should or not.
"I've got no problem sitting here, talking to you guys and leading the group, leading the team, leading the football club from this position. We're all in it together."
Analysis: Carrick handled situation well – but talking needs to be on the pitch
Sky Sports' Pete Gill:
"As a player, Michael Carrick was unflustered and calm. In Friday's press conference, he has been no different.
"He offered a straight bat to the inevitable questions about Martinez and only seem ruffled when it was suggested that he needed a result against Leeds - "we need a result" interjected the United head coach.
"Ultimately, though, United's talking needs to be on the pitch. And if there was one jarring note in the presser, it was Carrick's insistence that all is well at United that stood out.
"United are not, in his words, "in a good place". They can only be if they arrest their alarming slump in form, starting at Leeds on Sunday."
'Doubts over Martinez future'
Sky Sports News' Football Correspondent Rob Dorsett:
There are real doubts about whether Martinez's contract will be extended when it expires in the summer.
Manchester United will focus on revamping their defence in the next transfer windows and have the formal option to prolong Martinez's stay for a further year.
Sky Sports News has been told United are looking at new centre-backs, as well as left-backs.
It is also understood that there is no pressure on Wilcox internally regarding his position.
Martinez has been keen on a move away from Old Trafford for some time.
In the summer, he pushed for a move to Atletico Madrid, the side that beat United in the Champions League on Tuesday night, to follow his good friend and international team-mate, Cristian Romero, who left Spurs for Spain.
No suitable bid for Martinez came in for Manchester United to consider.
The 28-year-old made similar explosive comments about his bosses when at Ajax in 2022. Martinez, who again wanted a move away, called their sporting director Gerry Hamstra a "nobody".
